In Pakistan, signs praise spies as nation changes

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, supporters of a Pakistani religious group rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing, ISI, in Lahore, Pakistan. A controversy has started as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
The Associated Press

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, supporters of a Pakistani religious group rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing, ISI, in Lahore, Pakistan. A controversy has started as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

A man walks past a banner showing a picture of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam, center, displayed by traders to show their support for the Pakistani army and ISI, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 26, 2014. The Pakistani army has formally filed a complaint seeking to shut down a leading private news channel over what the military calls "false" reports that the country's intelligence service shot one of its top anchors. (Anjum Naveed)The Associated Press

A man walks past a banner showing a picture of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam, center, displayed by traders to show their support for the Pakistani army and ISI, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 26, 2014. The Pakistani army has formally filed a complaint seeking to shut down a leading private news channel over what the military calls "false" reports that the country's intelligence service shot one of its top anchors. (Anjum Naveed)

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, Pakistan army supporters hold pictures of army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, right, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam at a rally in Karachi, Pakistan. A controversy has surfaced as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)The Associated Press

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, Pakistan army supporters hold pictures of army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, right, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam at a rally in Karachi, Pakistan. A controversy has surfaced as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

In this Saturday, April 26, 2014 file photo, banners showing pictures of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam, center, and army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, right, are displayed by local traders in Islamabad, Pakistan. A controversy has started as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)The Associated Press

In this Saturday, April 26, 2014 file photo, banners showing pictures of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt. General Zaheerul Islam, center, and army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, right, are displayed by local traders in Islamabad, Pakistan. A controversy has started as Pakistan's powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, representatives of trade and business unions carry pro-army signs during a rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing in Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Placards in Urdu read, "we salute Pak army, we won't let Pak army down, long live army." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)The Associated Press

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, representatives of trade and business unions carry pro-army signs during a rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing in Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Placards in Urdu read, "we salute Pak army, we won't let Pak army down, long live army." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, banners supporting the army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing are on display in the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Banners read, top, "anything negative against army is not acceptable, and bottom, "every voice rising against Pakistan army should be silent." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)The Associated Press

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, banners supporting the army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing are on display in the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Banners read, top, "anything negative against army is not acceptable, and bottom, "every voice rising against Pakistan army should be silent." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, supporters of a Pakistani religious group carry signs during a rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing in Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Placards read, left, "long live Pakistan army and ISI" and right, "salute to Pak army sacrifices." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)The Associated Press

In this Friday, April 25, 2014 photo, supporters of a Pakistani religious group carry signs during a rally to support the Pakistan army and its Inter-Services Intelligence wing in Islamabad, Pakistan. The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country’s largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded Hamid Mir, one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that’s undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government? Placards read, left, "long live Pakistan army and ISI" and right, "salute to Pak army sacrifices." (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — On city streets in Pakistan, a curious sight has appeared in recent days: posters bearing the faces of the country's two most powerful generals that profess love for the military and its spying arm.

Lamp posts, street signs and cars carry the banners, which bear mottos like: "A traitor of Pakistan army is a traitor of the country" and "We love Pakistan army and ISI," referring to its Inter-Services Intelligence wing.

The mystery signs arrived in Pakistan as its powerful military faces off with the country's largest private television station over allegations that its forces were behind a shooting that seriously wounded one of its top anchors. But behind the chanting demonstrations and garish loyalty posters lies the deep challenge confronting Pakistan: Where does power lie in this country that's undergone three military coups since independence, with its army or its nascent civilian government?

The controversy started last Saturday when gunmen opened fire on Hamid Mir, an anchor for Geo News, wounding him six times. After the shooting, his journalist brother appeared on Geo and blamed the ISI for the shooting while the station showed a photo of its chief, Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam. The station repeatedly aired the accusations and blamed the ISI for the "assassination attempt" against Mir.

The Defense Ministry then petitioned government regulators to remove Geo from the air — a decision that's likely to come in early May. The station then reported that it's signal was blocked in areas of the country as small rallies supporting the military began. Last week, the posters began appearing, some with the ISI leader on them.

Their origin is a mystery. Some said they were from the people of Islamabad, the capital. Others mentioned a Pakistani religious figure. Some listed the All Traders Welfare Association, a little-known trade group in the capital, headed by a man named Furqan Murtaza.

When reached by The Associated Press, Murtaza denied that any government or military agency encouraged his campaign.

"This is an expression of public sentiment," he said.

Generally, people have to get permission before hanging posters and banners in the capital and pay a fee. An official from the Capital Development Authority, which manages Islamabad, said the agency did not receive any requests to hang the posters, though it's common for people to do it without permission. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

The military did not respond to requests for comment. An ISI official, speaking on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to discuss the agency publicly, said it was not responsible for the campaign.

The poster push comes as Pakistan, a country of 180 million that was carved out of India in 1947, last year saw its first civilian government finish a full five-year term and transfer power in democratic elections. Previously, military coups and other political turmoil prevented that. But even now, journalists face dangers reporting stories, the Taliban continue to be a threat and the military remains a powerful institution in nuclear-armed Pakistan.